Unofficially the first poet laureate of the Island was Dionis Coffin Riggs, who began hosting a poetry group at the Cleaveland House in West Tisbury in 1960.
Here is Dionis’s poem Wait, Spring, which was published in the April 19, 1996 Gazette:
Photography
The Martha's Vineyard Sharks, a charter member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, won their first championship title on Thursday evening with a 6-3 defeat of the league's defending champions, the Nashua Silver Knights.
August 16, 2013
About 10 months after two rare Kemp's Ridley turtles washed up on a Cape Cod beach in a hypothermic state, they were returned to the waves off Long Point in West Tisbury Wednesday.
August 15, 2013
Summer is at its peak with the Grand Illumination, Agricultural Fair and Oak Bluffs fireworks taking place this week. Tim Johnson headed out and found some of the other signs of August this week.
August 15, 2013
The Oak Bluffs Camp Ground shined brightly as thousands of lanterns were lit for the 145th annual Grand Illumination Night.
August 15, 2013
Willy Mason performs "If It's the End" at his home in West Tisbury.
August 14, 2013
Islanders turned out along roadsides from the airport to Alley's General Store to welcome President Obama as his Vineyard vacation began.
August 10, 2013
The weather was perfect Saturday morning for the Chilmark Road Race as 1,467 runners competed in the annual race.
August 10, 2013
Summer and baseball. They are synonymous. And so is watching sunsets on the Vineyard.
August 9, 2013
Go to a party, eat great food, hang with neighbors and do good at the same time. It is, as the saying goes, a no-brainer. Or better known as the Chilmark Firemen's Association Back Yard Bash.
August 9, 2013
Now in its 15th year, the 70-acre Polly Hill Arboretum has over 3,300 varieties of plants and trees that Polly Hill cultivated, both from seed and from cuttings.
August 8, 2013
They came bearing shovels and spades, clad in their swimsuits to participate in the Sand Sculpture Contest at South Beach on Wednesday.
August 7, 2013
The two-day All Island Art Show opened on Monday featuring works from all ages and levels of artists, in all mediums. The show, which takes place annually at the Tabernacle, continues through Tuesday.
August 5, 2013
Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival returned to the Island for the weekend of Aug. 3 and 4 to celebrate reading and writers. On Saturday authors spoke on panels at the Harbor View Hotel. On Sunday they gave readings on the grounds of the Chilmark Community Center.
August 5, 2013
As the calendar passes from July to August, Vineyard summer pace picks up. From concerts, to dance, and book festivals, there is plenty to do. Find time to look for the beauty in August too.
August 4, 2013
Since 1970, the year-round population of Martha’s Vineyard has more than doubled, far outpacing the rate of growth in Massachusetts and that of the United States. According to census figures, the Vineyard population increased by 271 people between 1960 and 1970.
August 2, 2013
It was one of those beautiful days on the water. A trip aboard the ferry Island Home from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven easily became a platform for seeing what is going on on the water. Sailboats speed across the water, pushed by a steady breeze.
August 1, 2013